Star Trek Online offers two new races in online store
by Rubi Bayer 
Feb 2nd 2010 at 8:00PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Star Trek Online
For 240 Cryptic Points, you can purchase the Klingon race, and for only 80 Cryptic Points you can purchase the Ferengi race. Each race comes with a few race-specific traits -- Warrior and Honorable for the Klingon, Immunity and Acute Senses for the Ferengi -- and the ability to choose two more. Purchasing the race unlocks it for every character slot on the account.
Most pre-order packages included Cryptic Points, so the races will essentially be free for many players, but fan reaction was mixed regarding the addition anyway. Many players felt it to be a bit of an underhanded move, with the phrase "nickel-and-diming us" being batted about frequently. Meanwhile, a similar number of players pointed out the free points that came with pre-order as well as the increasing frequency of microtransactions in MMOs these days, and moved on.
No matter which side of the argument you fall on, if you are interested in learning more about these two new races, you can take a look here.
 |
Enter the Star Trek universe with Cryptic Studios' Star Trek Online. From hands on reviews of the early levels and space combat, through noob questions and developer interviews, we've got everything you need to know about the game trekkies are dying for. Check out Massively's Star Trek Online page for the latest! |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
devilsei said on 8:07PM 2-02-2010
What... the f****?
I thought Klingons were supposed to be PvP only? People complain, so instead of doing the SENSIBLE thing, now you have to pay for a race that is already included in the game...
Yeah, that is nickel and diming people, sorry.
Reply
x(wai)x said on 12:45AM 2-03-2010
Assuming that by "the sensible thing" you mean "add Klingon PvE content," they're still planning on doing that as far as I've heard.
devilsei said on 2:37AM 2-03-2010
I meant, instead of making people pay with their convoluted point system (don't quite know the conversion of it, but those systems are horrible in general) for the "privilege" of using the Klingon in PvE, they could just, you know, let people play as them.
And, honestly I wouldn't be surprised if this IS their idea of adding "Klingon PvE Content"...
Siphaed said on 8:12PM 2-02-2010
It IS nickle-and-diming the players. The Ferengi (body parts at least) was in since the earliest part of Closed Beta. Supposedly they recently took them out for a graphical glitch(I cannot confirm this or not), but now it's in the store.
But, what they're doing right now is charging extra for content that was already part of the game's initial development process. THIS IS WRONG! They've basically held back the content for the sake of charging extra for it to squeeze a few more bucks from the sucke.....er, I mean, customers that already are paying $50-80 for the game AND $15 a month (or the $250 up front for the Lifetime).
Reply
Ymber said on 6:00PM 2-03-2010
You may not like it, but it's a bit silly to say charging players for additional content is wrong in any unqualified sense. If you buy the content, then you're saying "Playing as a Klingon is worth more to me than however much money 240 Cryptic points is worth," or whatever, so you're still getting something out of it. If it's not worth it, don't buy it, and you're no worse off. Cryptic isn't stealing your money, you're giving it to them (or not, as the case may be).
If you it's a poor business decision, or it harms their brand image, then that can be debated. But Cryptic could charge a billion points to give your character a British accent and still no one would be forced to pay for it.
theremover said on 8:16PM 2-02-2010
I always did think that nothing good could come out of something based on something so massive in scope and scale that was developed in such a short amount of time.
This is just more proof of all that.
Reply
Keen said on 8:28PM 2-02-2010
Hahahahahahh... fail. I don't know why anyone needs more proof.
Reply
Wensbane said on 8:33PM 2-02-2010
"Meanwhile, a similar number of players pointed out the free points that came with pre-order as well as the increasing frequency of microtransactions in MMOs these days, and moved on."
So, basically, Cryptic is charging for one of the most important elements of ANY role-playing game: character customization? Fair enough...
But they're also charging a standard monthly fee? Hmmmm...
Plus what you've paid for the game itself? Ooooook...
Not to mention any future major expansions? My head hurts now...
But who cares, right? Pre-orders got some points! Weeeeee!
Plus, this type of thing is getting more and more frequent - the same as white-collar crime, I suppose - so it's ALL good! If it's common, it's acceptable. We ALL know THAT!
O_o
Reply
elspath said on 5:32AM 2-03-2010
You make it sound so normal ~Shoots self~
vexis58 said on 8:40PM 2-02-2010
Probably be best to mention in the article that these are new FEDERATION races, as everyone gets Klingon as a playable race as part of the Klingon faction. Mentioning them here as a "new playable race that you can only use if you pay Cryptic money" is slightly misleading.
You're really only paying for the unique skills the Klingons get, since you could already make a Federation alien who looks like a Klingon. You couldn't make an alien who looks like a Ferengi, but then again, the Ferengi in STO look more like a regular human cosplayer with some cheap plastic Ferengi ears than an actual Ferengi.
Reply
Turlagh said on 10:25AM 2-04-2010
But actually would anyone really want to play as a Ferengi?
vexis58 said on 3:44PM 2-04-2010
I know of some people who were really looking forward to STO *because* they would get to play as Ferengi. But... not when they look like that.
Tizmah said on 8:42PM 2-02-2010
This generation of gaming is all about nickel and diming. This generation really does suck. Disappointment after disappointment really. Hate to be so negative, but it's the truth.
Reply
gerkshz said on 3:30PM 2-03-2010
Fear not, BioWare and SW: TOR is going to be released soon. BioWare is known for making hit games just as James Cameron is known for making mega-blockbuster movies.
Failure is not part of their culture.
Ceo said on 8:42PM 2-02-2010
Cryptic is really walking on thin ice right now and i don't know how long will people accept this. I mean why have monthly fee if you also have a store. Why are u paying the monthly fee for? I really HOPE they fail with STO and Champions because this is NOT the way to do business. And if they fail other devs will stay out of the let's try to MILK it in hope the players will "buy it".
I am so glad i am not playing any of their BS games wich are not mmos.
Reply
Starman said on 8:49PM 2-02-2010
Paying for races ? Are they outta their minds ? I can almost guarantee people will pay for them too and shame on those who pay for these kind of things. Totally insane and I'm glad I don't pay for any of this nonsese companies try to pull.
Reply
sikk said on 9:09PM 2-02-2010
I think Cryptic got huge negative feedback by making Klingons basically a creature play like LOTRO did. Also probably got huge negative feedback by not having Ferengi's as playable race. So they are doing whatever they can redeem that. To me it should be free and should have been implemented before launch. I "might" have actually bought it if they had both of those races as normally playable races, but they didn't. That, and not having any significant characters from TV series other than some sound bytes of spock ruined it for me. Timeline or not I'd much rather go visit DS9 and have Quark sell me stuff than go there and see absolutely no one from the show. If Cryptic was smart they would have gone ST:Legacy's route by having every major character/figure from the entire series in the game. You're making a game for fans of the IP, the characters are the IP, go figure.
Reply
CCon99 said on 9:03PM 2-02-2010
What's even more disgusting is both Klingon and Ferengi were both already in Closed Beta back in November and December. So they're nickel and diming their players with stuff that was already created months ago. They're selling you content that was developed and then withheld from being in the game at launch.
One of the Dev's even lied when the testers asked what happened to the Ferengi's as an option and were told they would return before launch, there was just "graphic issue" with them.
I love how they're more worried about selling microtransactions when their servers have to keep coming down every 3 hours. Glad they got their launch day priorities set.
Reply
Ingrod said on 9:40PM 2-02-2010
I was betatester and the Federation Klingon never was implemented in the closed beta. I know because I tried to create a Federation Klingon prior to the Klingon faction implementation.
The Ferengi yes was, but only for one build, I presume for testing, was removed for some reason. But in the first and last build they dont were
Low level devs cant know the final marketing decisions, Romulan and Cardassians dont have playable race, mainly because will be reserved for future expansions, also the Ferengin perhaps will receive their own faction in the future.
For me they are selling only the other factions members in federation.
DrewIW said on 9:15PM 2-02-2010
Wow.
Cutting content, then readding it in the cash shop for launch is a new low.
Reply